DJ Vadim The Sound Catcher

Russian-born globe-trekker DJ Vadim has made a habit out of collecting countless nations' sounds and adding them to his global brew. On The Sound Catcher, Vadim catches plenty, though Caribbean riddims are the primary port of entry. Dub tracks and reggae-tinged soul ("Black Is the Night") can all be found in Vadim's repertoire of good vibes. But hip-hop isn't left in the dust. The Bongo-laced "Got to Rock" (with MC Zion) nicely resurrects that '83 Kurtis Blow flavor, while "Ballistic Affairs" (featuring Skinnyman) puts a modern British spin on BDP's "Stop the Violence." Instead of pretending to be a pioneer of some ridiculous new sub-genre, Vadim succeeds simply by putting his stamp on the music he loves.